Summer 2026 - Week 3

 Haskell Weekend
July 16-21 At The Condo

I wish that it had worked differently and my adorable wife Kimberly D had been able to come to Orlando for the extended weekend at our stay-cation condo, but she was up in the air about doctor appointments and visits.  Drove up her, at my wife's insistence I might add, on Thursday morning.  Our son Brad came and we had a long lunch together.  Friday I went to his hockey game - he was the star and they won in a shootout.  Brought the grandson back for the weekend.  Ended by spending a good part of Monday with our adorable realtor Sophia before heading home.  The racing highlights were from the signature day at Monmouth, Haskell Day.  For the day Saturday I won 47% of the picks and with the promotional money I got back I finished in the black.  Made Sunday a winning day when I added their stakes event, the Wicker Stakes to the two picks from the Jersey Shore.

Friday:  Book'em Danno

Saturday:  Knightsbridge

Splendora

Kathynmarissa

Souper Quest

Cy Fair

Echo Sound

Journalism

Sunday:  King of Gosford

Was fun to hear back from my gal-pal Karli Barnett who's now based at an Atlanta news station.  We still keep in touch and she follows our trips.

Summer 2026 - Week 2

 Indiana Derby Weekend

After winning one of three on Friday I scored with eight runners on Saturday, including five stakes.  In that group was my BEST of the Day and the national highlighted Grade 3 Indiana Derby.  Also made a new online social media news-gal friend....reconnected with a long time friend and celebrated my best gal-pal hosting a baby shower for her bestie.  All in all, a really good weekend.

JR Shadow Boy right to the front and never looks back, never threatened in the Hoosier Sophomore

Irish Jig up in time for the upset of the Miss Disco

Noquestionaboutit runs by late to repeat in the Glen Petty

Determined Kingdom EASILY as the BET of the Day

Lightly raced but ultra-talented Leading Change digs in to win the Gr 3 Indiana Derby

My pal Lauren Pastrana posted that newbie to CBS-Miami Anna McAllister would be taking over the weekend morning news anchor.  Used to be I really enjoyed these program when I became friends with Teri Hornstein before she married and moved to Washington D.C.  The hosts since have not interested me nor have they shown much ability if I'm honest.  But I've seen Anna's reporting and she has "it" so I was excited to see her promotion.  Even more so when I reached out to her and she messaged me back multiple times.  New travel follower?  Hoping so.

Long, LONG time gal-pal Michelle at one time worked side-by-side with my Kim and they even coached volleyball together for a few years.  Since she moved to North Carolina we've only seen her a couple times.  But when we bought the condo she and I connected about that and the fact she visits her Mom in central Florida on occasion.  This weekend she & Kim made plans for her to visit us at the new condo and she and I exchanged messages about how fun it will be.  The AI-generated image pictures her on our condo balcony ready for pool time with my pretty Mrs.

Finally....continuing a regular exchange with my girl Kimmy, she hosted a baby shower for her high school and adult best friend Christy.  Those two were nothing but trouble, in a good way in high school and I was sooooo glad Kimmy posted pics online.  Of course I commented right away....and OF course she answered right back :)

Summer 2026: Week 1

 4th of July Weekend

Saturday July 4 was the kind of day that keeps me coming back for racing as I scored with six-of-eleven and had a tidy profit.  Saratoga opened this weekend, which was even far earlier than the recent early openings.  Used to be that Saratoga was a "boutique meet" that ran four weeks in August.  Then it was extended to the last week in July....then to Labor Day...then to the third week in July.  This year, Opening Day was on July 3.  Will be interesting when the newly refurbished Belmont Park opens next year if this continues or if we go back to Belmont running through mid-July.  I had selections from both Gulfstream (unusual for this time of year) and of course Monmouth.  The races from Monmouth were cancelled on Friday because of the oppressive heat and then again on Saturday, and so I was left with only the two tracks.  The biggest take away from the day Saturday was a reminder that the track pays on ALL winning tickets.  There were five big stakes race selections on my sheet Saturday and I won only one of them, but had five other winners :)

Mashallah clears off and draws away in the Saratoga opener

Cross Haste wires the second at Gulfstream

Eponine goes six-wide into the stretch and edges clear in the 2nd at the Spa

Shelzawa proves best through the final 16th for my 3rd consecutive Saratoga score

One Sweet Girl goes last-to-first to win the fourth at Gulfstream

Gran Oriente handled patiently early, blows by to win the Soldier's Dancer

Two notable social interactions over the last two weeks.....first, our good friend Michelle had her birthday and we exchanged messages.  As a side note, in my continuing book writing project I used Michelle as the basis for a fictional character that Mark & Kimmy work with at the Viking TV offices.  Fictional fun :)  And when I reached out to my very favorite former student and gal-pal Kimmy about her reunion cruise with former Royal Caribbean pals and Kim's health issues, she and I exchanged messages.  She's so sweet to care about both of us.

Spring 2026: Week 11

 Ohio Derby Weekend

It's the one weekend I play at Thistledowns and while I didn't have the winner of the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, I did have two stakes winners from the Cleveland track.  But the key to the day was after heading to Disney Springs with my adorable wife Kim to meet our son Brad & his family, I tuned into the races from Louisville where it was "Downs After Dark" and the feature was the Chicago Handicap.  Looked at the analysis / selections from the Churchill website and tripled the bet through Twin Spires.  It was close but I scored and that put me over the top for the day.  Ironically I actually HAD tickets to go.  But after trying for months to coordinate a trip to North Carolina - to see my all-time favorite former student and her family, Kimmy, along with a trip to Ohio to visit my Mom.  But in the end it just didn't all work, and the NC trip just didn't work at this point in the calendar.  But in a call-out to that whole attempted trip, and to my continued enjoyment of writing the book series, "Who Would Have Thought,"  I made the banner above illustrate the virtual Mark & virtual Kimmy AT Downs After Dark watching my winning pick score.  For the day Saturday I went five for fifteen and was right on the break even mark.  The key to the day was two-fold...first, the winner of the opener at Monmouth - with Paco Lopez aboard - paid over $12 and I netted over $60.  Then in the last race, the Gr 2 Chicago I collected over $25.

More Vino Rosso Posts The Upset In The Jersey Shore Opener

Just Relax Much The Best

Authoritarian Girl SCORES In the Classen At Thistledowns

Nerazurri Draws Off Handily In The Lady Jacqueline

Eclatant JUST GETS UP To WIN The Grade 2 Chicago

Grant the  Great WALKS With Monmouth's 5th

A real treat on Father's Day evening was seeing our son Brad and his adult league hockey team win their league's championship :)

I've gotten away from my "Social Media this week...." section, but it seemed worthy this week.  I have kept in touch with my gal-pal and CBS news anchor Lauren Pastrana.  But for the last few months it's rare that she actually messages me.  But this week she did in response to a reply I had to one of her stories.  

And then really, REALLY appreciated two of my favorite gal-pals - Amanda and Jillian - who sent me Happy Father's Day messages.  While Jillian wasn't really at the condo, IF she had been, this AI image is what I WOULD have expected our pose would look like.  The picture with Amanda is real however :)

Spring 2026: Week 10

 Haskell Preview Day

June 13

It was a big day on the Jersey Shore with multiple stakes races on the card which served as prep races for the $1 Million Haskell Invitational Day in a month.  I opted to play the Churchill card as well as Delaware where it was Delaware Oaks Day...but my top choice scratched out there.  For the day I went 8-for 20 including scores with both of my best bets for the afternoon.  I lost a small amount of money for basically two reasons.  In the first from Delaware I drew off at 8/5 with a double investment, only to have my runner DQ'd - wrongly in my opinion.  And then later in the day in Churchill's seventh my pick went right to the front at 7/2 odds.  Led to the final fifty yards before being caught in the shadow of the wire.  Those two runners would have turned the minimum loss day into a nearly $40 winning day.

Fidelightcayut just up in time in Monmouth's first

Kerness K goes last to first to get up in time in the 4th at Delaware

Don't Say It clears off late while in hand in the 4th at Churchill

Gimme a Nother goes off as second choice in the Gr 3 Eatontown and runs away as easily best

Program Trading walks with the Monmouth as the Jersey Shore Best BET despite not having won a race in two years

Enjoying so much the best at odds-on for Paco Lopez's SIXTH win of the day

Burnham Square usually a closer takes command early...headed in the lane but fights back to score as the BET of the Weekend

Relative Value closes out the day edging clear late at a generous 5/1 price